About the Authors Dr. Anju K Bhardwaj MD (Ayu) born on 4th August 1988, completed her BAMS in 2013 from KLE's Shri BMK Ayurvedic Mahavidyalaya Belgaum, Karnataka. She received Himalaya Jeevaka Award for scoring highest marks in Final year of BAMS. She has been also awarded Gold Medal from RGUHS University, Bangalore for scoring highest marks in Kayachikitsa in BAMS in the year 2013.

She completed her MD (Ayurveda) in Svasthavritta & Yoga from National Institute of Ayurveda , Jaipur in 2016 under the Supervision of Vaidya Prof. Kamalesh Kumar Sharma. She has published various articles in scientific National and International Journals, health magazines and news papers. She is presently working as Ayurveda Physician at Employee State Insurance Corporation Medical College and Hospital Faridabad, Haryana. For her services in ESIC she has been awarded with National ESIC Dhanvantari Appreciation Award in year 2018.

Dr. Ritu Yadav born on 2 October 1989 at Rewari Haryana. She completed her graduation from Shri Krishana Ayurvedic Government College and Hospital, Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra Haryana in 2013. She completed her PG in Kayachikitsa from NIA Jaipur under Supervision of Associate Professor Dr. Jai Prakash Singh in 2016. She has published various articles in National and International journals.

She has attended various National and International seminars & CME in Kayachikitsa. Presently she is working as Assistant Professor in Kayachikitsa Deptt. in MLR Ayurvedic College & Hospital Charkhi Dadri, Haryana.

Preface The book "Guide to Healthy Pregnancy" is an attempt to present ANC care, dietary and behavioural guidelines during pregnancy, yoga postures to be practiced and their application during preconceptional,conceptional and post conceptional stages of pregnancy.

This book provides the customized matter and is presented in simple and lucid style. This book has been divided into 17 chapters arranged accordingly to the various stages of pregnancy. Over all this book is meant for everyone who is interested to gain knowledge about healthy pregnancy and to improve the outcome of pregnancy in terms of healthy mother and baby with minimum medicinal intervention.

Every effort has been made to make this book more informative and I hope that the public, students and Ayurvedic practitioner will be also able to refer this book effectively.

Introduction Ayurveda deals in details with the importance of health of pregnant woman and child during and after pregnancy. Ayurveda has explained preventive and curative approach in care of pregnant woman, Ayurveda lays emphasis on correction of lifestyle of mother. The health of unborn child mostly depends on the health status of mother so it is utmost important to take care of mother's well being even before pregnancy.

Ayurvedic texts like Charaka Samhita, Sushruta samhita, Asthanga Hridaya, Kashyapa samhita deals in detail about foetal growth, monthly regiment to be followed by mother, post partum care of new born as well as mother. Concepts of Ayurveda are not just based on fulfilling the nutritional requirements of mother to prepare her for pregnancy but the major focus is on over all development of mother and child in terms of nutrition, prevention of genetic diseases, prevention of common diseases of pregnancy, spiritual aspect, safe delivery and finally complete new born care.

Now a days the maternal and foetal health services are enormously increased in every part of world but still throughout the course of pregnancy medicines needs to be prescribed and maternal health issues like gestational DM, Gestational HTN, Elampsia, Eclampsia, Preterm birth, big baby, Low birth weight baby and genetic conditions like Thalassaemias, Haempohilia, congenital condition like Cerebral palsy etc have become so common. The reason is present dietary and lifestyle habits. Ayurvedic Regimen for Pregnant woman i.e. Garbhini masanumasika Paricharya focuses on correction of mothers lifestyle in terms of her diet and behaviour. Panchakarma (Bio purification) for the couple before conception purifies the body of couple and can surely bring down the chances of genetic diseases in the offspring. Yoga practice before, during pregnancy and post pregnancy increases the physical and mental strength of mother. It improves the outcome of pregnancy in terms of healthy mother and baby.

This books deals with basic understanding of importance of pre conceptional biopurification in todays era, care during pregnancy based on Ayurvedic principles of diet and lifestyle, Yoga practice during pregnancy and post partum care of mother and new born. This book is intended to benefit every mother as well as Ayurvedic practitioner to practice Ayurvedic Ante natal care regimen.

This effort of writing this book would not have been possible without the support of our parents, family and teachers. Their consistent support has always been there throughout the work of publication.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages